Apparatus to pack olives and the like



Nov. 22, 1955 Original Filed Oct.

F. W. OLSON ET'AL APPARATUS TO PACK OLIVES AND THE LIKE 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. E WILLIAM OLSON EUGENE FI BAERENRODT BY QW ATTORNEY.

Nov. 22, 1955 F. w. oLsoN ET AL APPARATUS To PACK oLIvEs AND THE LIKE:

15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 7, 1948 INVENTORS. F. wlLLlM OLSON EUGENE E BAERENRODT BY @4J/wh j ATTORNEY.

Nov. 22, 1955 F w, OLSON E-r AL Re. 24,095

APPARATUS TO PACK OLIVES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Oct. 7, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTORS. EwlLLlAM OLSON EUGENE E BAERENRODT ATTORNEY.

Nov. 22, 1955 F. w. OLSON Er AL Re. 24,095

' APPARATUS To PACK oLIvEs AND THE LIKE Original Filed Oct. 7. 1948 .15 Sheets-Sheet 4 66 @los F. WILLIAM OLSON EUGENE E' BAERENRODT ATTORNEY.

Nov. 22, 1955 y F. w. OLSON ETAL Re. 24,095

APPARATUS To PACK oLIVEs AND THE Lm.;

EWILLIAM OLSON EUGENE F. BAERENRODT ATTORNEY.v

Nov. 22, 1955 F. w. oLsoN ETAL Re- 24,095 APPARATUS To PACK OLIVES AND 'mE LIKE Original Filed Oct. 7, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIGB INVENTORS- E WILLIAM OLSON EUGENE F. BAERENRODT ATTORNEY` Nov. 22, 1955 F. w. oLsoN ETAL APPARATUS T0 PACK OLIVES AND THE LIKE 15 sheets-sheet 7 Original Filed Oct. 7, 1948 F'IGJO l w/Hl INVENToRs. F. WILLIAM OLSON EUGENE E BAERENRODT BY M ATTORNEY.

Nov. 22, 1955 F. wfoLsoN ETAL Re. 24,095

APPARATUS T0 PACK OLIVES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Oct. 7, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS.

E WILLIAM OLSON By EUGENE F. BAERENRODT ,2 ,fa/M f3/4@ ATTORNEY.

Nov. 22, 1955 F. w. OLSON El' AL Re. 24,095

APPARATUS TO PACK OLIVES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Oct. 7, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 with www INVENroRs. E wlLLlAM OLSON EUGENE F. BAERENRODT ATTORNEY.

Nov. 22, 1955 F. w. oLsoN ETAL APPARATUS To PACK oLIvEs AND THE LIKE 15 Sheets-Sheet lO Original Filed Oct. 7, 1948 FIG. I9

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Nov. 22, 1955 F. w. oLsoN ETAL Re. 24,095

APPARATUS TO PACK OLIVES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Oct. 7, 1948 l5 Sheets-Sheet 11 A OLSON Y RENRODT B 4M/w ATTORNEY.

INVENTORS.

EWILLI ENE E BA EUG F'IG. 24

Nov. 22, 1955 F. w. oLsoN ET AL APPARATUS To PAcx oLIvEs AND THE LIKE 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 Original Filed Oct. 7, 1948 INVENTORS. F. WILLIAM OLSON EUGENE E BAERENRODT BY /M/ ATTORNEY.

Nov. 22, 1955 F. w. oLsoN ET AL APPARATUS To PACK oLIvEs AND THE LIKE 15 sheets-sheet 1s Original Filed Oct. 7, 194B lllm..

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APPARATUS TO PACK OLIVES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Oct. 7, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 7o 68E |680 .68C |688 n .68A |68 63 |72 @wn im @n '7* i l l |Z\\ EW|LLIAM OLSON EUGENE F. BAERENRODT ATTORNEY.

l5 Sheets-Sheet 15 F. W. OLSON ET AL APPARATUS TO PACK OLIVES AND THE LIKE m 5N Y. mmm ,M N R mms o T W n Imm A |JJ mmf No F om Y B ma on m. mm\ B l Q. 3 .vh-

Nov. 22, 1955 original Filed oct. 7, 1948 N9 a. 8. A s s NEE United States Patent APPARATUS TO PACK OLIVES AND THE LIKE Frank William Olson, Montclair, and Eugene F. Baerenrodt, Essex Fells, N. J.

Original No. 2,693,901, dated November 9, 1954, Serial No. 53,264, October 7, 1948. Application for reissue May 31, 1955, Serial No. 512,356

27 Claims. (Cl. 226-14) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets Vappears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to an automatic packing or tilling machine, and more particularly to a machine for packing olives or like articles, such as cherries or onions, in transparent cylindrical containers.

In the packaging of fancy goods, such as olives, cherries, onions and the like, the trade demands that the individual items be packed in a regular and systematic array.

The trade demands that olives be packed in cylindrical transparent containers, such as glass jars, the individual olives being carefully positioned in successive layers of two or more, each successive layer being rotatably displaced a prescribed amount from the layers immediately above and below. The total number of olives to be packed in a single container of course is determined by the size of the container to be utilized and the positional relationship of the olives therein. The olives may be packed in layers of two, three, four or more, if desired, and the number of olives in each layei determines the required amount of rotational disposition necessary to meet the demands of the trade. Similar requirements exist for the packing of cherries, onions and other like articles. A primary object of this invention is, therefore, to provide an essentially simple and eficient machine to pack olives in the above described manner, as prescribed by the trade.

At the present day the packing of fancy goods, namely olives and the like, is done entirely by manual operations. The olives are imported into this country in barrels, usually graded and sorted, both as to size and condition, and then manually packed in suitable containers in the alignment set forth above, a tedious, time consuming and expensive procedure at best.

A further object of this invention is, therefore, to provide an essentially simple, etlicient, inexpensive and completely automatic device to pack olives at a rate not attainable through manual operation.

The manual packing of olives, at the present day, necessitates human contact with the articles of food, necessarily resulting in a lowering of sanitary standards, which is always undesirable in food handling. A further object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a completely automatic device for packing olives or like articles with a minimum of human contact with the articles of food, and to provide for easy removal and cleaning of all parts of the device contacting the food to insure the maintenance of a high standard of sanitary conditions.

While the device was especially designed for packing olives in the special alignment described above, e. g. the olives carefully positioned in successive layers of two or more, each successive layer being rotatably displaced a prescribed amount from the layers immediately above and below, it may be used for the packing of other similar materials whose packing requires an alignment similar to that set forth above.

To these and other ends, the presently preferred forms of the device embodying the invention are shown, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings.

rice

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, showing the container positioning system and the control system;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the olive location system;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. l, showing the driving means for the olive location system;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side sectional view of the device, showing the olive depositing system on the upper portion of its stroke;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side sectional view of the device, showing the olive depositing system at an intermediate position on its stroke;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side sectional view of the device, showing the olive depositing system at a further intermediate position on its stroke;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side sectional view of the device, showing the olive depositing system at the lower portion of its stroke;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary expanded vertical section on the line 9--9 of Fig. l, showing part of the olive depositing system;

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary expanded vertical section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 14 is an expanded side view of part of the olive depositing means shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 15 is a horizontal section on the line 15-15 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a horizontal section on the line 16-16 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 17-17 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 18-18 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 19 is an expanded plan view of the means utilized to guide the olive holders into the jar;

Fig. 20 is a vertical section on the line 20-20 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a vertical section on the line 21-21 of l Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary expanded side view of the reciprocating arm of the olive depositing system;

Fig. 23 is a horizontal section on the line 23-23 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a vertical section on the line 24-24 of Fig. 22 showing the olive clamps in an open position;

Fig. 25 is a vertical section on the line 25-25 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is a vertical section on the line 24-24 of Fig. 22, showing the olive clamps in a closed position;

Fig. 27 is an expanded vertical section on the line 27-27 of Fig. 26;

Fig. 28 is a vertical section (like Fig. 24) of the olive holder releasing a pair of Olives in the desired alignment in a container;

Fig. 29 is a side viewof the control and timing system on the line 29-29 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 30 is a vertical section on the line 30-30 of Fig. 29;

Fig. 31 is a horizontal section on the line 31-31 of Fig. 29;

Fig. 32 is a side view of the control and timing system on the line 32-32 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 33 is a schematic diagram of the entire control y and timing system.

The invention may be briefly described as an integral combination of a container positioning system, an olive positioning system, a mechanism for depositing the olives in the container in the desired relationship, and means to control and integrate the movements of the above mentioned elements. For the purposes of simplicity only, the embodiment` of the invention illustrated in the drawings is designed to pack olives in layers of two with each layer being rotatably displaced a quarter circle or 90 from each successive layer with a total of thirteen layers of' olives required to be deposited in each container.

It is essential for elicient operation that the` containers and the olives be at the right place at the precise instant of time in order that the olives be packed by the olive depositing mechanism in the containers in the prescribed manner.

The container positioning mechanism consists generally of al turntable upon which is mounted the containers to be filled, and associatedl means for placing the containers in the proper position at the proper time to. receive the, olives. The olive location mechanism consists generally of a second turntable upon which are disposed the olives, in suitable holders, at the. proper position and at the proper time, to facilitate their insertion into the container. The mechanism for depositing the olives in the container consists generally of a reciprocating arm having, at one end, suitable means for grasping the olives, and associated means for controlling the grasping and releasing of the olives at the proper location and at the proper time. The motive power for thev machine illustrated in the drawings is compressed air actuating pistons through a system of cylinders and the timing of the various movements is controlled by a System of cam operated valves regulating the application of air pressure to the respective cylinders, the drive for said cams being a small electric motor.

The above named components will be separately described in detail.

THE CONTAINER POSITIONING SYSTEM There will first be considered the means adapted to place the containers in the proper position for filling and at the proper instant of time to receive the olives in the desired alignment.

The container positioning mechanism. consists generally of a turntable, upon which are mounted the containers in a prescribed relationship, associated means for rotating said turntable, associated means for lining the position of the container at the dwell point beneath the filling means and means for revolving said container at the dwell point to facilitate the of the. olives in the manner prescribed by the trade.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the preferred form of the container positioning and location mechanism is shown in detail. The containers 1, of which there are twelve in number equally spaced (i. e. 30 apart) near the periphery of the lower turntable 5, are positioned in sockets 2 and secured against movement with respect to said sockets 2 by spring clamps 3 mounted on vertical supporting rods 4 firmly fastened to the lower turntable 5, and by spring members 6 secured to the sockets 2. The sockets 2 are mounted on cylindrical keyed shafts T movably inserted into flanged keywayed bushings 8, the hanged bushings 8 being secured against vertical movement by collars 10 located on the underside of the lower turntable 5.

The lower turntable 5 'B rotatably mourned on a nonrotatable hollow shaft- 14 by a hub I1 positioned by a collar 12 and a stationary hanged basel resting on the bed 54 of the machine, and its rotation is accomplished by the action of a pawl 15 upon a twelvedoothed ratchet 9 secured to the underside of said turntable 5.

In operation it is necessary to place the container to be filled at the dwell point or loading` locality directly under the reciprocating arm 16 of the olive depositing mechanism. To accomplish this result the turntable S is rotatable by the action of the pawl 15 upon the twelvetoothed ratchet 9, said pawl 15 being mounted on a reciprocating arm 17, which is actuated by a piston rod 18 operating in a cylinder 19 and actuated in both directions by compressed ar. The movement of the reciproeating arm 17 is limited by an adustable limiting bolt 20, and returnable to itsl normal position after actuation, and after the piston rod 18 has returned to its withdrawn position, by the return spring 21. To locate the container 1 carefully in the desired position and to prevent movement of the turntable 5 during the filling operation, there is provided a spring tensioned dog 22 (see also Fig. 13) mounted on the bed S4 of the machine and actuated (for release of the turntable) byl a spring tensioned, pivoted pawl 23 mounted on the reciprocating arm 17, the dog 22 engaging suitably located notches 24 embedded on the periphery of the lower turntable 5 while the turntable 5 is stationary (i. e. not being rotated to present an empty container to the position at the dwell point directly beneath the reciprocating arm 16 of the olive depositing mechanism), but adapted to release the turntable 5. when it is being rotated by the action of the pawl 15 upon the ratchet 9.

To provide for the disposing of the olives in the container in successive layers, each layer displaced or a quarter circle from the layers immediately above and below, provision has been made for rotating the container being illed through a 90 arc between the deposition of each layer of olives. Each flanged keywayed bushing 8 mounted on the lower turntable 5 has, on its upper flanged surface, mounted thereon four vertical pins 25 spaced 90 apart. At the position of the container being filled, a pawl 26, tensioned by a spring 27 and mounted, with the spring, on a reciprocating arm 28, which is driven by a piston 29 that operates in a cylinder 30 and is actuated in both directions by compressed air, engages one of the pins 25 on each return stroke of the piston 29 and rotates the [weywayed] keywayed flanged bushing 8 together with the keyed shaft 7, the socket 2 and the container 1 through a quarter circle or 90 arc. To position the container 1 carefully, and to hold it releasably in place, the flanged bushing 8 is notched at 31 on the sides of the flanged portions thereof, said notches 31 being engageable by a spring member 32.

Referring now solely to Fig. l, when the container to he filled reaches its proper location at the dwell point or loading locality directly beneath the reciprocating arm 16 to olive depositing mechanism, the container 1 is elevated to contact a guiding means 33 above the loading locality by the action of an upright piston 34, operating in` a cylinder 35. and actuated in both directions by compressed air, upon the end of the keyed shaft 7 in the flanged keywayedl bushing 8. The conf tainer 1 is held in contact with the guiding means 33, until the container 1 is filled, by the action of the piston 34,

In the presently preferred form of the invention as shown in the drawings twelve containers have been mounted on the lower turntable 5,. The turntable 5 rotates, as a unit, intermittently, presenting a new container 1 at the dwell or filling point only when the previous container has been filled, an operation requiring, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the depositing of thirteen layers of olives, which, in turn, requires thirteen complete strokes of the reciprocating arrn 16 of the olive depositing mechanism, one layer of olives being deposited on each complete stroke of the reciprocating arm 16. The container being filled is kept in the elevated position against the guiding means 33 during the entire filling operation requiring thirteen complete strokcs of the reciprocating arm 16 of the olive depositing mechanism, and is rotated through ,90 for each of the above mentioned strokes of said reciprocating arm 16.

When the machine is being operated, the following sequence of movements takes place. Assume the machine is in operation and that the uppermost layer of olives has just been deposited in the container at the dwell point. As the reciprocating arm 16 is drawn upward the piston rod 34 is withdrawn by the application of compressed air to the cylinder 35. The withdrawal of the piston rod 34 from contact with the keyed cylindrical shaft 7 causes the shaft 7 together with the socket 2 and the container 1 to fall, i. e. under their own weight (but upon the descending piston rod), from the elevated position as illustrated in Fig. l. Referring to Figs. 2 and 13 when the socket 2 reaches its normal position, i. e. resting on the flanged keywayed bushing 8, compressed air is introduced into cylinder 19 which causes the piston rod 18 to actuate the reciprocating arm 17.

As the reciprocating arm 17 moves the spring tensioned, pivoted pawl 23, limited in its movement by the pin 23B, contacts the spring tensioned dog 22 and causes the dog 22 to move out of contact with the notch 24. While the dog 22 is out of contact with a notch 24, the pawl 15 mounted on the still moving reciprocating arm 17 engages the ratchet 9 and causes the turntable 5 to rotate. The dog 22 is adapted to be held by the spring tensioned, pivoted pawl 23 in the non-engaged position for a sufficient period of time to permit the action of the pawl 15 upon the ratchet 9 to rotate the turntable through an arc sufficient to move the recently engaged notch 24 out of possible contact with the dog 22 when the same is released and is forced back in contact with the turntable by the tension of the spring 22A. When so released the dog 22 will contact the unnotched portion of the periphery of the turntable 5 and will ride thereon until the turntable 5 is rotated through an arc sucient to bring the next and successive notch 24 into engagement with the dog 22, thus fxing and holding the location of the next successive container 1 accurately at the dwell point beneath the reciprocating arm 16 of the olive depositing mechanism.

After the above described rotation has been accomplished, compressed air is introduced into the opposite end of the cylinder 19 causing the piston rod 18 to move back to its starting (i. e. receded) position. As the pressure of the piston rod 18 is removed, the return spring 21 moves the reciprocating arm 17 back into its normal position against the piston rod 18. During the backward movement of the reciprocating arm 17 the pawl 23 contacts the dog 22, but does not cause the dog 22 to move, as the pawl 23 is adapted to pivot about the pivot point. 23A and is returned to its normal operating position, after passage of the dog 22, by the spring 23C.

When the next successive empty container 1 has been located in the dwell point, through the action described above, the piston rod 34, actuated by compressed air applied to the cylinder 35 contacts the cylindrical keyed shaft 7 and raises the shaft 7, together with the socket 2 and the empty container 1, into firm contact with the guiding means 33 and secures it in this position until the container 1 is entirely filled.

After the container 1 has been raised into contact with the guiding means 33, the reciprocating arm 16 moves downward and deposits the rst layer of olives in the bottom of the container 1 and then moves upward. When the reciprocating arm 16 clears the container, compressed air is applied to the cylinder 30 which causes the piston rod 29 to move from its normal extended position (as shown in Fig. 2) into the cylinder 29, thus moving the reciprocating arm 28 in the same direction. The spring tensioned, pivoted pawl 26 mounted on the reciprocating arm 28 contacts a pin 25 on the keywayed anged collar 8 causing the collar 8, together with the keyed shaft 7, the socket 2 and the container 1, to rotate through a quarter circle. On the return stroke of the arm 28, caused by the application of compressed air tothe other end of the cylinder 30 thus moving the piston rod 29, the pawl 26 will be idly deflected by the next pin 25 (i. e. that pin 25 that will be engaged on the next drive stroke) and caused to pivot about the pivot point 26A, the pawl being returnable, after passage, to its normal position by the action of the spring 27. Thus the container 1 at the dwell point has been rotated from its previous position and is now adapted to receive the next [successive] successive layer of olives. The above described sequence of operations to rotate the container 1 for each reciprocation, and to effect theconsequent depositing of a layer of olives, occurs on each successive reciprocation of the reciprocating arm 16. When the container 1 at the dwell point is lled the entire sequence of operations described above repeats itself, for the llingof the next container.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, it is necessary to manually remove the filled containers 1 from their sockets 2 and replace them with empty containers 1.

THE OLIVE LOCATION SYSTEM There will next be described the means provided for locating the olives at the dwell point or loading locality immediately above the container to be filled and in the proper position to be deposited in the container by the reciprocating arm 16 of the olive depositing mechanism.

In Figs. 1 and 3 the presently preferred form of the olive location mechanism is illustrated in detail. It is necessary to place the olives above the container to be filled at the proper time to be grasped by the olive disposing mechanism. To accomplish this end there is provided an upper turntable 36, secured to a rotatable shaft 37 contained within the aforementioned hollow cylindrical shaft 14, the shaft 37 being secured by a collar 49 located at its nether extremity. Uniformly spaced (i. e. spaced 221/2" apart) near the periphery of the upper turntable 36 are a plurality of annular receptacles 38 (e. g. these annular receptacles 38 are sixteen in number in the preferred form as shown in the ligure, but the actual'number of receptacles 38 on said upper turntable is not critical) adapted to receive the olive holders 39. The olive holders 39 are suitable cylindrical castings adapted to receive and contain two olives inserted therein with their longer axes in the same line, and disposed to permit the passage of the reciprocating arm 16 of the olive depositing mechanism.

As will beV seen from Figs. l, 3, 22 and 24-26, each holder 39 has two olive-receiving apertures which open partially into each other and which are shaped to engage and support the olives at peripheral regions near both ends of each olive. The surfaces which engage each olive are spaced across the olive, by a distance slightly less than the corresponding dimension of the uncompressed olive, so that the olive will be held against falling` of its own weight, but may be readily pushed through by the olive depositor which is described below. The apertures in the holder are also widened, adjacent the central region of the olive, to provide clearance for the olive-gripping parts of the depositor.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 4, the upper turntable 36 is rotated by the action of a spring tensioned pawl 40 upon a ratchet 41 (said ratchet 41 rnust have the same number of teeth as there are olive holders 39, e. g. therefore said ratchet 9 has 16 teeth in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4) secured to the shaft 37 directly above the aforementioned collar 49. The pawl 40 is mounted on a reciprocating arm 42 actuated by a piston 43 operating in a cylinder 44 and actuated in both directions by compressed air; the reciprocating arm 42 is limited in its movement by an adjustable limiting bolt 45 and is returnable to its normal position after actuation by the return spring 46.

Referring now to Figs. l and3, the olive holders 39 must be positioned directly beneath the reciprocating arm 16 of the olive depositing mechanism. To accomplish this end there are provided a plurality of notches 50 on the periphery of the upper turntable 36 corresponding in number to the number of olive holders 39, and so positioned as to correctly align the olive holders 39 when a reciprocating guide bar 51, moving in conjunction with the reciprocating ann 16 of the olive depositing mechanism, moving between the guide rollers 52 engages the notch 50 corresponding to the olive holder 39 above the container 1 which is actually being filled.

To prevent the turntable 36 from rotating past the next successive olive holder 39, a spring tensioned dog 53 is mounted to engage the next [succeesive] successive notch 50, adjacent to the aforesaid notch 50 at the dwell point, on the periphery of the turntable 36. The dog 53 has mounted upon its upper surface a vertical pin 60 engageable by' a bar 61 pivoted at 62 on the frame 55. When the movable cross-arm 56 of the olive depositing mechanism is in its uppermost posit-ion, the spring 63 on the dog 53 will hold said dog in close proximity with the periphery of the upper turntable 36 and will engage the next successive notch 50. As the cross-arm 56 moves down the extended roller 64 (see also Figs. 16-18) will contact the surface of the bar 61 and move the dog 53 out of the engaged position and into a position permitting rotation of the turntable 36. While the cross-arm 56 is in its downward position the guide bar. 51, in engaging the notch 50 at the dwell point, will prevent any movement of the turntable 36. The guide bar 51 is of such a length that upon its upward stroke it is fully withdrawn from the notch 50 before the extended roller 64 completes its withdrawal from effective contact with the pivoted bar 61. As a result the pawl 40 is permitted to engage the ratchet 41 and move the turntable 36 a certain amount, in the period of time available after the disengagement of the guide bar 51 and before the disengagement of the extended roller 64 with the pivoted bar 6.1. Specically, such amount of motion of the turntable occurring while the dog 53 is still held in retracted position by the bar 61 is sulicient to permit the previously engaged notch 50 to move past the eective point of contact of the dog 53. Continuing upward movement of the cross-arm 56 then serves to remove the pressure of the bar 61 upon the pin 60, previously caused by the contact of the bar 61 and the extended roller 64 carried by the cross-ann. In consequence, under the pressure of the spring 63, the dog 53 engages the periphery and eventually the next successive notch 50 of the turntable 36, thus preventing rotation past the next successive olive holder 39.

Thus the action of the dog ,53 permits the rotation of the turntable 36 of an amount equivalent to placing the next olive holder 39 beneath the reciprocating arm I6 of the olive depositing mechanism, on each stroke of the reciprocating arm 16.

While supplemental handling or conveying systems may be employed if desired, the illustrated apparatus is conveniently put in use by inserting the olives manually in the several holders 39, and thereafter keeping the holders filled by like manual replacement of olives in the empty holders as the latter leave the depositing mechanism. The holders, which can be removed when necessary for cleaning, realignment or replacement, are easily pre-set in correct alignment for the depositing mechanism, so that the olive-receiving recesses are properly pre-positioned and the necessary alignment o f the olives themselves is thus obtained, without special care on the prt of the operator, by the simple act of placing the olives in the holes.

THE OLIVE DEPOSITOR There will next be described the means provided for transferring the olives from the olive holding mechanism secos at the required level in the container. Secondly, it must securely grasp the olives in the olive holders 39. Thirdly, it must release the olives at the proper instant of time in the container 1.

In Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8 the preferred form of the device adapted to place the olives in the containers at the desired le'vel is shown in detail.

The olive depositing mechanism is mounted on a frame 55, made up of two spaced, parallel, rectangular bars of metal, supported by the bed 54 of the machine. A reciprocating arm 16 and a guide bar 51 are secured to a cross-arm 56 which is, in turn, secured to a piston 57 operating in a cylinder 58 and actuated in both directions by compressed air. The movement of the piston 57 is limited by an adjustable spring tensioned, limiting bolt 59. The operation oi the piston 57, transmitted through the cross-arm S6, moves the reciprocating arm 16 of the olive depositing mechanism in the vertical direction.

Since it is necessary todeposit each successive layer of olives on top of the preceding layer, it is necessary to vary the length of the stroke of the reciprocating arm 16' in successive steps. In Figs. 5, 9, 10, l1, l2 a preferred form of [acomplishing] accomplishing this result [in] is shown in detail. The horizontal cross-arm 56 is secured to a rectangular vertical shaft 65, movably contained within the frame 55, terminating at its upper end by a U-bolt connection 66, connecting thel shaft 65, by a line 67 running over pulleys 68, 69, to a counterweight 70. The shaft 65 moves in conjunction with the crossarm 56 and is guided by pairs of rollers 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 and passes, in the course of its movement, through an aperture 76 in the bed 54 of the machine. Since the shaft 65 moves in conjunction with the reciprocating arm 16' and the length of the stroke of the shaft 65 is determined by the stepped cam 77, which is mounted underneath the hed 54 of the machine and is secured to a shaft 78, the length of the stroke of the reciprocating arm 16 is also determined. The stepped cam 77 as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 and in the expanded view of Fig. 9, is rotated by the action of a pawl 79 upon a ratchet 85 (see also Fig. l) carried by the shaft 78. The pawl 79 is mounted on a reciprocating arm 80 driven by a piston 8l which operates in a cylinder 82 and is actuated in both directions by compressed air. The arm B0 is limited in its stroke by an adjustable limiting bolt 83 and is returnable to its normal position by a return spr'mg 84.

The steps, of which there arey thirteen in number, on on the stepped cam 77 individuallyl correspond in height to the depth of a layer of olives and the cam 77 is advanced one 'step for each layer of olives deposited in the container 1 undergoing filling (for example, since the specific form of the device illustrated in the drawings is designed for depositing thirteen layers of olives, the cam 77 of necessity herey provides for thirteen separate steps). An examination of the position of the shaft 65 in Figs, 5, 6, 7 and 8 shows the shaft 65 in various positions during its downward stroke. Fig. 8 shows the shaft 65 at rest on the stepped cam 77 with the reciprocating arm 16 at the proper level in the container 1 to release the next successive layer of olives.

Each time the reciprocating arm 16 reaches the uppermost portion of its stroke, the above described action of the pawl T9 upon the ratchet 85 serves to rotate the stepped cam I7 by an amount suflicient to present the next successive step for contact with the shaft 65. The cam 77 is disposed so as to permit the greatest length of stroke when the first layer of olives is deposited in the container il. The cam thereafter presents successive steps in cach reciprocation of the reciprocating arm 16, thus uniformly shortening the stroke, as the successive layers of olives are deposited in the container.

There will now be described in detail the mechanism adaptedA to grasp and release the olives at the proper instant of time. Figures 22 through 2'6 show in detail various views of the mechanism provided for grasping the olives. The olive holder 39 situated in the annular receptacle 38 in the upper turntable 36 contains a pair of olives 86, 87 in the proper position for disposition.

'the reciprocating arm 16 is made up of identical U- shaped sections 88, 89 (i. e. vertical members of U- shaped cross-section, as shown in Fig. 23) joined together so that their junction forms a rectangular slot 90 running the length of said reciprocating arm 16. The U- shaped sections 88, 89 are secured at the top to the crossarm 56 (Figs. 5 and 16), and near the bottom carry pairs of wings or laterally projecting members 91, 92 on which are mounted the olive-gripping pairs of finger clamps 93, 94, the pairs of finger clamps 93, 94 being mounted by and pivoted about pairs of rivets 98, 99. The pairs of finger clamps 93, 94 are internally curved in conformity with more than 180" of the circumference of an olive, and are held in a normally closed position by the action of spring members 95, 96.

The rectangular slot 90 widens into a bell-shaped section 97 at the lower extremity of said reciprocating arm 16. Said bell-shaped section 97 contains a slug of metal 100 resting on and contacting both the pairs of finger clamps 93, 94. The slug 100 has an upper portion that extends up into the rectangular slot with a sliding fit, i. e. to move vertically in the slot. Above the slug the slot also receives (with a like sliding fit for vertical reciprocation) the triggering shaft 102, which as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 16 projects far above the upper separately fastened ends of the members 88, 89 that constitute the arm 16. When pressure is applied to said slug of metal 100 by the triggering shaft 102, the pressure is thus applied to the contacted section of the pairs of finger clamps 93, 94. This pressure, if suiicient to overcome the tension of the pairs of springs 95, 96, causes the iinger clamps to pivot about the pairs of pivot points, i. e. the rivets 98, 99, and to assume an open position. Removing this pressure causes the tension of the pairs of springs 95, 96 to force the pairs of linger clamps 93, 94 to assume the closed position.

Figs. 14, l5, 16, 17 and 18 show in detail and Figs. 5,

6, 7 and 8 likewise illustrate for various positions of the stroke of the reciprocating arm 16, the mechanism utilized to control the timing of the opening and closing of the pairs of finger clamps 93, 94 by controlling the applica- -tion of pressure upon the slug of metal 100 as described above. In Fig. and in the expanded views shown in Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 the reciprocating arm 16 is shown, at the uppermost portion of the stroke, above the olive holder 39. Under such circumstances each of the pairs of linger clamps 94 (only one of said pairs being shown in Fig. 5) is held in the open position by the pressure applied to the slug of metal 100 by the triggering shaft 102 which is terminated at its upper end by a weight 103. As the reciprocating arm 16 starts its downward movement, the triggering shaft 102 keeps pressure applied to the slug of metal 100, thus keeping the finger clamps 94 open.

When the finger clamps 94 have descended to suicient elevation to encompass the olive 87, as shown in Fig. 6, the pressure on the slug of metal 100 is removed by reason of the engagement of a downwardly facing step or shoulder 104 (on the triggering shaft 102) with a horizontal arm 105, the triggering shaft being thereby suspended. The horizontal arm 105 is movably mounted, i. e. to slide horizontally, on a base 106 fastened to the frame 55. Since the horizontal arm 105 is mounted on the base 106 which in turn is fastened to the frame 55, said horizontal arm will always be a fixed calculable distance above the olive holder 39 and the olives 87 held therein. The horizontal arm 105 is normally held in a position adapted to contact the step 104 on the triggering shaft 102 by the tension of a spring 107 secured at one end to a pin 108 mounted on said horizontal arm 105 and secured at the other end to a pin 109 mounted on the immovable base 106. It will now be seen that when the 10 arm 16 first cr'iimerices its downward stroke, the triggering shaft 102 is resting on the slug 100, keeping the finger clamps 94 open (Fig. 5). hey thus remain open until they have respectively descended along the sides of the olive; then the step 104 reaches the arm 105 and the latter holds the triggering shaft (Fig. 6) so that further continuing descent of the arm 16 causes the finger clamps to close upon the olive 87 by the action of the springs, it being now understood that the vertical distance between the arm 105 and the olive holder 39 is selected to effectuate such closure of the clamps at the point just described. The triggering shaft 102 then temporarily remains suspended on the horizontal arm 105 while the reciprocating arm 16, with both pairs of linger clamps 94 closed and holding the olives, moves downward into the container 1, the two olives gripped by the clamps are thus pushed down through the openings in the holder 39.

After the arm 16 has moved further downward for a short distance, a cam secured to the movable vertical shaft 65 (which is secured to the cross-arm 56 and thus descends with the arm 16) contacts a roller 111 mounted on pivoted lever arm 112, said pivoted lever arm 112 engaging a notch 113 on said horizontal arm 105 and being pivoted to the stationary frame at 114. The contact of the cam 110 with the roller causes the lever arm 112 to pivot about the pivot point 114, thus causing the horizontal arm 105 to move out of contact with the step 104 on the triggering shaft 102, and permitting said triggering shaft 102 to fall. The triggering shaft 102, in falling, is then stopped by a horizontal arm 115 contacting another and lower step 116 on the shaft 102, as shown in Fig. 7, before the extremity of said shaft 102 contacts the slug of metal 100. The horizontal arm 115 is movably mounted [(1 (i. e. to reciprocate horizontally) in a base 117 secured to the vertically movable shaft 65 and is adapted to be held in a position to contact the step 116 on the triggering shaft 102 by a spring 118 extending between a pin 119 on said horizontal arm 115 and a pin 120 secured to the base 117. The horizontal arm 115 thus intercepts the triggering shaft 102 a short distance before the shaft 102 contacts the slug of metal 100 and thus the triggering shaft 102 now accompanies said reciprocating arm 16 (but still out of contact with the slug 100) as it approaches the desired level for the depositing of the next successive layer of olives.

A shaft 121 movably secured to the vertical shaft (i. e. so as to slide vertically relative to the latter) but normally moving in conjunction therewith contacts the stepped cam 77 (see also Fig. 9) a short time before the vertical shaft 65 contacts the stepped cam 77 and terminates the downward movement of the reciprocating arm 16. The movement of shaft 121 is thus terminated while the shaft 65 continues in a downward direction, and since the base element 117 moves in conjunction with the shaft y 65 it is also moving with relation to the shaft 121. This downward movement of the base element 117 causes one arm of a bell crank 122 pivotally mounted on the base element 117 to contact the upper end of the shaft 121 which causes the bell crank to pivot. Accordingly .the other arm of the bell crank 122 in turn moves or retracts the horizontal arm 115 a suiiicient distance to permit the triggering shaft 102 to fall and contact the slug of metal 100. In this manner, by the weight of the triggering shaft (and its weight 103) released on the slug 100, the linger clamps 94 are caused to open and release the olives when the vertical shaft 65 and consequently the reciprocating arm 16 of the olive depositing mechanism has reached the lowermost portion of its stroke, as shown in Fig. 8 and the expanded view of Fig. 28. The triggering shaft 102 remains in contact with the slug of metal 100, thus keeping the linger clamps 94 in an open position during the entire upward stroke as illustrated in Fig. 5, and also on the downward return stroke until the step 104 engages the horizontal arm 105, as shown -in Fig. 6. y 

